Twins for the Monaco royals

PRINCESS CHARLENE and PRINCE ALBERT of Monaco are celebrating the arrival of twins, who were born in a hospital named after their grandmother, Princess Grace.

The first baby, Jacques, was born at 5.04pm with sister Gabriella arriving just two minutes later. It is Prince Jacques who is the heir to the throne of the principality of Monaco and will inherit a tax-free fortune. The same would have been true if he had been born second, because of Monaco’s succession law.

Had the babies both been of the same sex, the first one delivered would have succeeded to the throne. Although the royal physician would have delivered the baby that presents itself first when the uterus is opened, he would still have had a hand in the future of the Grimaldi dynasty.

A 42 cannon shot salute welcomed the babies into the world – double the usual amount sounded for a single baby. The babies are the first twins in the royal household, which dates back to the 13th Century.

These are the first children for the 36-year-old former South African Olympic swimmer, who married Prince Albert II, 56, three years ago. Albert is the father of at least two children considered 'illegitimate' by the House of Grimaldi. DNA tests were used to confirm Albert's status as father of Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, a 22-year-old daughter with a Californian woman, and Alexandre Coste, a 10-year-old son with a former flight attendant from Togo, in West Africa.

Prince Albert was by Charlene’s side as the children were delivered at the Princess Grace Hospital, which is named after Albert's mother, the late Hollywood star, Grace Kelly.

The royal couple did not know the sex of their babies before they arrived. Albert had said: “It is one of the beautiful surprises that life offers us.”

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